13 Goals for 2013!

We spent the day today at my favorite beach.  It was a huge breath of fresh air (literally) - and it gave me time to reflect on my goals for 2013.  I know a lot of people don't like to do resolutions, but I am not one of them.  Haha.


No really, I like to start off the year with a little reflection.  Here's what I'm working on for 2013:




1) I will not visit People.com or Perez Hilton or look at any gossip magazine (online or in print). 

I know this sounds kind of funny, and really I'm so much better about it now than I was years ago (when I ate that stuff up!)  The problem is that 1) it leads me to compare myself to others in an unrealistic and awful way, and 2) that stuff is just garbage.

If I have downtime, I want to focus on things that matter - things that are real.  Things that uplift me.  Things that contribute to my wellness and happiness.  Things that are affirming and connecting.





2) I will not compare myself with others.  Period.

It is true what they say:  Comparison is the thief of joy.  I find that I am so much happier when I focus on the wonderful things I have right here in front of me and not focus on what I don't have.





3)  I will want what I have.

Since I'm throwing around aphorisms, another one is true:  The grass is greenest where you water it.

My life is not perfect, but it is perfect for me.  I don't need to waste energy wishing things were a different way. The life I have built is enough - it is beautiful and while it's not always ideal, I won't waste a moment wishing it were different.  It is my life and it is enough.  :-)





4) I will take one family photos of all five of us once/month (12 photos/year).

This one takes a little planning - it means either asking someone to take our picture or getting out the tripod and using the timer.  It will happen!  I especially cherish all the photos I have of all five of us together - so I want to make that a priority. 






5) I will continue to pare down uneccessary possessions - simplifying, decluttering, and de-owning. 

We live in a little beach bungalow.  We have five people and a big doggie.  I used to think I wanted a bigger house.  But now I realize I really don't want a bigger house.  I love us being cozy and close in our little cottage.  I don't want the hassle of a big house. 

The only reason we'd get a bigger house is so it could hold more stuff.  The more stuff you have, the more you have to clean it, take care of it, maintain it.  I don't want to spend my life as a STUFF manager.  I'd rather spend my time doing other things...like going to the beach! ;-)

 


6) I will be mindful when I'm buying new things - because there's no point in simplifying if you just buy more STUFF.

Enough said.




7) In my interactions with my kids and husband, I will take the path that strengthens our relationship/bond.

This is something I already work on a lot - and it's something I want to strive to do better.  Basically, when I am in a tough spot with one of my family members, I will  take the road that strengthens rather than denigrades our relationship.





8) I will focus on being healthy and balanced.  So, I will enjoy food responsibly (haha) and not worry about a number on the scale.





9) I will be present in my life.

I won't spend time ruminating about the past or worrying about the future.  I will be in this moment - living every second (the good, bad, hard, and joyous times).  I will not wish a second of it away for another time - because every moment has an equal value and once it is gone...it is gone.






10) I will not worry about what other people think about me, my kids, my parenting, my house, etc.

I will dance like no one's watching, and if people want to judge me or make fun of me, then that's their business.  I really can't waste one second of my precious life worrying about what other people think.






11) I will be authentic and vulnerable in my relationships.

I will risk, put myself out there, and work to connect with others - even though it won't always work out.  I might be cast aside, made fun of, ignored, and ridiculed.  It's okay.  Really.  See  #10.

The upside is that if I am authentic and put my true self out there, I have the chance to make incredible, real connections with others.  And isn't that what life's about anyway?
 




12) I will cast aside fear and choose JOY.  Always.

I will find joy in this moment. These moments add up to a year and these years add up to my life!

It's true: Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy." -Guillaume Apollinaire





13)  Eat more veggies.  Drink more water.

You knew I was going to say that, right?!  Haha.

Happy 2013!

The End.

Happy New Year!

Hope you are having a wonderful New Year's Day. It's gorgeous here. We're all set to get outside and enjoy the beautiful day. We're also packing up all our Christmas decorations today (sniff sniff) and cleaning up the effects of four weeks of Winter Partying at our house. Fun stuff. ;-)

2011 was an amazing year for our family. 2011 was the year of our newest miracle - her entire pregnancy, birth, and first weeks of life were all in that one year. Needless to say, whatever hard times we had this year were far overshadowed by the miracle of life.

I am not big on resolutions, but I do enjoy each year figuring out what my goals and priorities are for the upcoming year. This year, I have a multitude of things I want to do, be, have, and give (I heard that phrase on Oprah 20 years ago and I've never forgotten it).

Mostly, I just want to survive this next year! Haha. With a newborn, a 2 year old, and a 5 year old, life is full here. ;-)

But more than just survive, I want to thrive in the new year. Here's to new possibilities and happy days this year!

1/1/11!

On this first day of 2011, we had a relaxing day at home. Mr. Mustard had to work part of the day on New Year's Eve, but was home in time for us all to go out to dinner for his birthday and ring in the New Year with us, too!

We went to Islands for dinner on New Year's Eve (it's one of the few places Paprika likes to eat). My sandwich was disgusting, so I told the waiter I couldn't eat it. It was soaked with so much teriyaki sauce the bread disolved in my hands. Well, then the manager came over and she told me that if I didn't want to have a soggy bread sandwich that I needed to order my sauce on the side.



Of course! Why didn't I think of that? If Paprika had more places she would actually eat, I would say we'd never be going back to Islands again. But the sad thing is, we probably will go back there...and yea, I probably will order my sauce on the side next time.



Well, the whole Islands thing ended up being a little bit of a disaster anyway because Ginger didn't get a great nap in and really wanted to go home and sleep. What can you do? I guess these are the times when we remember why we either get a babysitter or order in when we want to have dinner and conversation all at the same time.



Then we came home, put the girls to bed, and watched movies together. We saw The Sting, and it made me remember how great Paul Newman and Robert Redford were in movies together. There's really no one quite like Paul Newman, is there? He was a true great.



Then, today it was a low-key day around the casa. We had a picnic in our backyard and watched the girls play the day away. We are starting back up on our bathroom remodel, and so that was the other excitement of today. Ha! I am hopeful we will finish it tomorrow and then I can cross that off my list of things to do in 2011! ;-)

Year In Pictures!

Happy New Year! I know some people can't wait to move on to 2011, and for some 2010 was their best year yet. Mr. Mustard and I were just talking about our year over his birthday dinner, and we came to the conclusion that 2010 is a hard year to sum up. You know that saying, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times?" Well, that's it in a nutshell.

This year my 21 year old cousin died tragically in a car accident. My grandpa was diagnosed with cancer and died two weeks later. My mom lost her job just around the time my stepdad's stage 4 cancer returned. My dad and stepmom couldn't lose their jobs because they lost them the year before.

Our house sale fell through three times, after we had already moved out, and we never were able to sell it (but we rented it out for less than our mortgage- oh well). We thought Ginger had lead poisoning and had to move out of our new house temporarily. Oh yea, and I almost forgot, a crazy stalker stole photos of Paprika and started a blog about her pretending Paprika was her child.

What a year.

There have been many good times this year, despite all the hardships. Here is a little look back at our year!

This was our first year since 2004 that I have not been pregnant at all. True.

January we started hiking and getting Ginger used to the great outdoors:



We saw a lot of stage shows this year. Paprika went to Mary Poppins in February, and we followed it up with taking both girls to see Annie on stage, as well as Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Wiz, and finally The Nutcracker just a few weeks ago!



We took a lot of trips to Disneyland. We probably went 20 or 25 times this year.







I think we have enough Disneyland pictures to wallpaper our bathroom.



Okay, maybe our whole house.



In February, we decided to put our house in Pasadena on the market and move to the beach.



We said goodbye to our house in Pasadena, as well as Paprika's very loved preschool (I don't think there is a preschool teacher as great as Ms. D on the planet). There wasn't a dry eye on Paprika's last day.



We were in our new house by March and spent most of the month unpacking!



March and April were spent in a series of DIY home-improvement projects that I did while Ginger was napping. So, in other words, in 20 minute increments!

The kitchen floor "after":



Paprika's room "after":



Ginger's room "after":


In between fixing up the new house, we went to the beach a lot since we're just down the street now.



The beach became hangout numero uno, and we spent many afternoons there soaking up the sun, rays, and lots of sand!



Mr. Mustard had the month of June off, so we took a trip to Maine for a few weeks with his mom. We all fell in love with Maine again while we were there! How could you not? It is a gorgeous dream.







In June, Ginger turned one year old! We celebrated with a party in Indiana with my family there. It was the best!



We made some great memories, including chasing fireflies in the sunset hours...fireflies are something California is missing out on - big time!



In July we celebrated two years since Vivian and Annemarie went to Heaven. I don't know if celebrated is the right word...no words seem to fit how much we miss them.



August brought Mr. Mustard and my 7 year wedding anniversary. That weekend my 21 year old cousin, Steven, was in a horrible car accident. He died on August 8th, and we were all shocked, horrified and inconceivably sad. For someone so bright and young to die so suddenly, it was just an injustice we can't even comprehend. I think about him and his family every day and wish I could change the events of that night. What an incredible man, gone too soon.

We made a trip on short-notice to the funeral and memorial service and got to see my family. Although it was brief, it was one of those events that we could not miss.



Mid-August brought Paprika's 4th birthday and an intimate birthday party at home with her two best friends. She is growing up!



In September, we raised butterflies in our backyard. It was amazing!



We started going to the Aquarium a lot during the summer, and by Fall, it was one of our favorite hang-out spots.



We all especially enjoyed the bird sanctuary and Paprika had lots of long talks with her feathered friends:



Paprika enrolled in Pre-K in September, and after a few bumps, ended up in the perfect classroom for her (one that doesn't meet in the morning- ha!) She has really blossomed in her class and has made a lot of friends there!



In September, my Grandpa was admitted to the hospital for what they thought was gout, and within a week he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. He died at home, peacefully, two weeks later, on October 16th. We travelled to Indiana for his funeral, and got to spend some time with my family remembering his life. When he was in the hospital, I had a great conversation with him on the phone, probably the best I have ever had, and I will treasure it always. He was an incredible man and he is so dearly missed.



October brought an Indian summer to our beach community. Oh, what am I talking about, it's always summer here:



Halloween was magical on our new street, where everyone goes all out. Paprika wanted to keep trick-or-treating for weeks afterwards and it was only when she started thinking about Christmas was she able to let it go.



November brought Thanksgiving up in Santa Barbara, and me crossing off one of my big goals of 2010: giving up my precious Coke. Yup, that's right, I quit The Black Death the day before Thanksgiving and haven't looked back. My poor mother-in-law, husband, and daughters had to put up with me when I was in withdrawl over the holiday. They must really love me...or something! ;-)



In December, we visited Disneyland for the gazillionth time. It was awesome to see all the Christmas lights and get in the holiday spirit.



For Christmas this year, we stayed home (one of our first years not travelling 2000+ miles). I am happy to say that it was a magical Christmas, and so relaxing to just wake up in our own house this year. Cozy. Quiet. Not quite like our year, but good.



And then, just like that, it was 2011!



Thinking of you all, and wishing you a happy, healthy, blessed, and fulfilling new year!